Timing device



March 20, 1962 M. R. DOCK ETAL TIMING DEVICE Filed June 17, 1959INVENTORS MORTIMER RUSSELL Doc/c EDWARD J. CHALDUX EDGEWDRTH GREENEUnited States Patent Filed June 17, 1959, Ser. No. 821,007 7 Claims.(c1. 58-144) This invention relates to a timing device including atubular element containing a fluid having a gravityactuatedtime-indicating member submerged therein. The movement of said member asit settles to the bottom of the tube is adapted to indicate the passageof time.

' By inverting the tubular element the timing operation may be repeated.

It has been customary in devices of this character to allow for an airspace at one end of said tube, to thereby provide for possible expansionof the liquid in the tube due to temperature changes. Thus, when thetube is inverted, an air bubble rises in the fluid and often intervferes with the slowly descending indicating member, resulting in a lackof accuracy since such impeding has an irregular effect on the movementof said member through the fluid.

Although various expedients have been proposed, such as a float memberwith a central bore for the passage of the air bubble therethrough,results have been unsatisfactory, and would be inoperative when a slimtubular element is desired suitable for a clothing pocket or purse.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tubular memberconstructed, at least at one end, with means for trapping the air bubbleso that its primary purpose maybe retained without the heretoforeobjectionable results. Another object of the invention resides in theprovision of means for determining a perpendicular position for thetubular member. A further object of the invention is characterized bymeans for predetermining angular positions of the tubular member withrespect to the perpendicular, and their relation to various incrementsof time. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsin which- FIG. 1 is a central vertical sectional'view, partly inelevation showing an improved timing device in accordance with thisinvention, and taken on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 2-2of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the timing device when resting upon aninclined surface.

I FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along thelongitudinal axis of the tubular element of the device showing the airtrap construction and having an intermediate portion broken away, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing modified forms ofclosing means for the tubular element.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 4, there is shown atiming unit 10 which may be used independently of other associatedstructure, since it can be made to resemble a pen or pencil and becarried on the person for use in timing telephone conversation, the

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boiling of eggs, etc. It comprises a tubular element 11 provided withclosing means 12, in this instance one for each end, a transparentsilicone fluid which incompletely fills the element in order to leaveroom for a bubble of air at each end, and a time-indicating member 14preferably in the form of a ball and which is completely submerged inthe fluid between stops for that purpose presently to be described.

The ball may consist of a metallic shell sufficiently heavy to weighslightly more than the fluid it displaces. The closing means 12 isconstructed to define one wall of an air chamber 15 lying between thesame and the adjacent inner wall of the element. Other forms of closingmeans incorporating an air chamber may suggest themselves to skilledpersons without departing from the spirit of this invention, such asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. One type practical to manufacture and assembleis shown herein. It consists of a cylindrical part 16 adapted to extendwithin and be spaced from the surrounding wall of the tubular element 11so as to define one boundary of the air chamber 15. The cylindrical part16 is formed with a circular flange 17 at its outer end for sealingengagement with the top of said tubular element. Between part 16 and theinner wall 18, which is cut away to form a shoulder 19, is an annulus 20the base 21 of which rests upon shoulder 19 and fits snugly within thesurrounding wall 18. Extending outwardly from base 21 is a tubular part22 which closely surrounds cylindrical part 16, and is spaced from andparallel to wall 18. The top surface of part 22, when viewed at the topof element 11, is spaced from the flange 17, and when in an invertedposition, as shown at the lower end of FIG. 4, constitutes a bafflesince it then becomes a re-entrant part of air chamber 15 trapping theair bubble therein and preventing it from floating upwardly through thefluid which the bubble then has no direct way of reaching.

Cylindrical parts 16 at each end of the element project inwardly towardeach other and into the fluid 13, thereby providing stop surfaces 23 formember 14 to settle against. The graduations 24, shown on the tubularelement 13, designate units of time, such as one minute, two minutes,etc. These time intervals may be lengthened by inclining the tubularelement'at various angles to the perpendicular which causes theindicating member 14 to move through the fluid at a reduced rate ofspeed since the pull of gravity is then indirect with respect to theaxis of element 11, causing the said member to impinge and drag alongthe low side of said element.

7 The greater the inclination toward the horizontal, the

more slowly member 14 will sink in the fluid.

It is sometimes desirable to have an air chamber at each end of the tubefor various reasons, such as (1) to double the volume of air forpossible compression; (2) the tubular unit is rendered more symmetricaland better balanced; (3) the pressure potential is divided into twoseparate and widely spaced zones; (4) in the assembly operations no timeneed be lost in deciding which end of the tube should be uppermostinasmuch as they are identical, and (5) when combined with the definitestops 23 at each end of the tube which are always submerged in theliquid, a constantly uniform distance can be maintained for the travelof the ball which is of course important in a calibrated timing device.

For the purpose of aligning the timing unit 10 with 3 such angularpositions, the construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 Will now bedescribed.

Referring to the same, a holder 30 for the unit lll) consists of a ringmolded in matched half sections 31 and 32, which are hollow and adaptedto be cemented together. When so joined they form an annular ball race33 within which is a relatively heavy ball 34 free to roll in said race.The holder 30 is provided with circular rails 35 formed respectivelyalong its outer edge on either side, and extending laterally in oppositedirections. On one or both sides of the holder 30, around its centralopening 35', there are radial graduations 36 which may correspond to adefinite angular scale, and/or various time intervals to be readconjointly with the graduations 24. Two of such graduations 36, viz. 36aand 36b, are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the time unit Ltd, asclearly shown in FIG. 3.

The holder 30 may also be provided with any suitable means for mountingthe timing unit It) so that it may extend radially across the opening35. Such means may be of a detachable nature so that the time unit maybe utilized separately if desired. The means shown herein consists ofpockets 37 diametrically opposite each other and adapted to fit snuglyover corresponding ends of unit 10. Since the ring is made from flexibleplastic material, such as polyethylene, it may be deformed sulficientlyto apply or remove the said unit as will be understood.

A base 40 is provided for rotatably supporting the holder 30, and it mayalso be molded in half sections 42 and 43 from plastic material such astransparent polystyrene. It is internally formed with arcuate grooves 41adapted to receive rails 35. When these half sections are cementedtogether, as along the aligned tongue 44 and groove 45 after thepositioning therein of holder 30, the latter may be rotated in base 4%and because the ball 34 naturally tends to seek a lowermost position, asshown in FIG. 1, any of the graduations may be brought into an alignedposition with the center of the ball, causing the unit to lie at acorresponding angle to the vertical since the ball, being responsive togravity, will always indicate the perpendicular. As an example, shouldbase 40 be placed on an inclined surface 50 indicated in FIG. 3, holder30 may be rotated clockwise until graduation 36b is aligned with thecenter of ball 34, thus correcting the out-of--plumb position of theunit 10 for obtaining an accurate reading in that position.

In addition to the useful purposes described, it will be obvious thatthe closing means shown herein could be made of insulating material andcould have electric terminals passing through to the interior of thetubular element adapted to be engaged and bridged by the member 14 toclose a circuit connected to ring a bell, light a bulb, or actuate arelay operative to automatically invert the unit 10 for a repetition ofthe operations outlined.

In FIG. 4, terminal caps 60 are indicated in dot and dash lines at eachend of unit 10. These add to the appearance of unit 10 when used or soldseparately, and provide a firmer support for it in an upright position.

While specific forms of the invention have been shown and described, itwill be understood that other modifications may be made within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A timing device comprising a tube which is at least in parttransparent, a body of fluid incompletely filling said tube, whereby airis adapted to be trapped in opposite end portions of the tube, closureelements having fluid tight sealing engagement with opposite ends of thetube and including centrally disposed axial projections spaced from theside wall of the tube and extending inwardly from the ends of the tubeand into said body of fluid, said closure elements, projections and endside Wall Portions of the tube defining trap chambers for air at theopposite ends of the tube and outwardly of the body of fluid, annularbattle means associated with the closure elements and tube and closelysurrounding said projections and spaced inwardly of the ends of the tubeand inwardly of said end side wall portions of the tube and projectinginto said air trap chambers, whereby the air trapped therein cannot passinto or through said body of fluid, and a movable time indicatingelement submerged bodily within said body of fluid and free to move inany direction therein and having a density somewhat greater than thedensity of the fluid and engageable with the inner ends of saidprojections when the tube is upright for limiting the movement of thetime indicating element axially through said tube in either direction.

2. A timing device comprising a tube which is at least in parttransparent and having opposite ends, disc elements spanning theopposite ends of the tube and having fluid tight engagement therewith,axial projections formed upon the disc elements and projecting axiallyinto opposite end portions of the tube and spaced from the side wall ofthe tube, annular baffle means closely surrounding said projections inthe end portions of the tube and spaced from the side wall of the tubeand in wardly of the ends of the tube, the inner ends of saidprojections extending axially inwardly of said baifie elements, a bodyof fluid incompletely filling said tube and receiving inner end portionsof said projections axially inwardly of the baflie elements, and a timeindicating element entirely submerged in said body of fluid within saidtube and between said projections and freely movable axially [throughsaid tube and having a.- density greater than the density of said fluid,there being air trap chambers at opposite end portions of the tubebeyond the ends of said body of liquid and bounded by said projections,disc elements and the side walls of the tube, said annular b aflieelements disposed within said air trap chambers and forming a reverseflow passage therein through which it is impossible for the air in saidchambars to escape into said body of fluid.

3. A timing device according to claim 2, and wherein said annular baflieelements are rigid with the side wall of said tube.

4. A timing device according to claim 2, and wherein said annular baffleelements are rigid with said projections.

5. A timing device according to claim 2, and a vertically disposedannular supporting means for said timing device engaging opposite endsthereof so as to extend diametrically across the supporting means tofacilitate positioning the device in a selected vertical position.

6. A timing device according to claim 2, and a vertically disposedannular supporting means for said timing device engaging opposite endsthereof so as to extend diametrically across the annular supportingmeans to facilitate positioning the device in a selected verticalposition, said annular support including an annular ball race and a ballfreely rotatable therein, and a base rotatably supporting the annularsupporting means, where by in cooperation with said ball the timingelement may be vertically aligned with the ball, or inclined at variousangles with respect to the perpendicular.

7. A timing device comprising a tubular element which is at least partlytransparent, a body of fluid incompletely filling said element wherebyair is adapted to be trapped in an end portion thereof when the elementis supported in a substantially vertical position, closure means com.-pletely sealing the same, said closure means including a centrallydisposed axial projection spaced from the side walls of the tubularelement and extending inwardly into said body of fluid, said closuremeans, projection and adjacent side Walls of the tubular clementdefining a trap chamber for air, annular baffle means associated withthe closure means and tubular element and closely surrounding saidprojection and spaced inwardly of the side walls of the tubular elementand projecting into said air trap chamber, whereby air trapped thereincannot pass into or through said body of fluid, and a movabletime-indieating element submerged bodily within said fluid and free tomove in any direction therein and having a density somewhat greater thanthe density of the fluid and engageable with the inner end of theprojection when the tube is upright for limiting the movement of thetimeindieating element axially through the tubular element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,234,437 Kistler Mar. 11, 1941 2,672,047 Spear Mar. 16, 1954 2 ,714,927Stem et a1. Aug. 9, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Measures, August, 1947, page266, Viscosimetre a chute de bille.

